Pneumatic carrier



(No Model.) V2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. GILLHAM.

PNEUMATIG CARRIER.

No. 308,836. Patented Aug. 19, 1884..

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. GILLHAM.

PNBUMATIG CARRIER. No. 303,836. Patentad Aug. 19, 1884.

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Unirse drains artnr @irrita HOHER" GlLLl-IAM, OF KANSAS CITY, h'llSSO'URl.

PNEUMATC CARRIER.

llPECI-"ECATEO-E forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,83G, dated August ILE)` 1884:.

(No model.)

To (LZZ whom .it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ronnirr GILLHAM, of Kansas City', in the countyof Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain linproveinents in Pneumatic Carriers, oiwhich the foilowing is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to pneumatic carrier systems ofthe character described and shown in an application for patent tiled by Albert risbanc and myself on the 19th day of March, lSSS, thc present iniproveinents relating inerely to the manner of discharging the carrieror car at any desired station, and automatically restoring the switch-section of thc tube to its normal position. l

nln the annexed drawings, Figure l reprcseui's a longitudinal section through one of the switch boxes or stations, and Fig. 2 a similar View showing' a slightly modified forni of the saine.

The present invention is in thc nature of an improvement upon or inediiication of certain analogous devices for which I have heretofore applied for patent, and has for its object the production ot a simple and eflicicnt means of discharging the carriers at any desired station with expedition and certainty.

In the drawings, A indicates the tube orcoir ductor; B, the box or chamber into and'ironi which said conductor passes, and C a bridge or switch section connecting the incoming and outgoing ends ci' the tube or conductor. This section is pivoted near its mid-length on center pins or pivots, c, which permit it to rock or tip with great freedom, the outgoing end being inade to slightly overbalance the receiving end, so that when not held up by means provided for 'the purpose the bridge or switch section C will occupy the position shown in the drawings, in which position it will fail to conduct the carrier D across the box, but will perinit it to pass beneath the receiving end of the bridge-section, as indicated in Figs. l and 2.

Beneath the bridge or section U is an arm, E, which may be made upon or as part of a bracket, and secured to the under side of the section C, as in Fig. l, or in the forni'of a pivotcd lever, bearing at one en d against said Nsection, as in 2. ln either case the carrier I), entering the box while the section Gis tipped out of li'ne with the main conductor, will come .into contact with the arm E, and acting partly by impact and partly by gravity, will cause the action to assume a horizontal position, or whatever other position may be necessary io cause it to complete the conductor through the box or chamber. Then attached to the switch or bridge section, as in Fig. l, the arin E should be faced with rubber er other elastic or yielding material to deaden the sound and relieve the arm oi' the concussion that would otherwise occur. This may also be donewhen the arm is inadein the forni of a. pivoted lever, as in Fig. 2, but ordinarily that will not be necessary. A chute or incline, F, serves to conduct the carrier properly to the arm E, and au inclined bottom board, G', directs the carrier downward to an outlet-opening, l-Lcloscd by a gravitating door, l, which opens outward. The current of air passes constantly through the conductor A in the direction indicated, being advisably produ ced by suction 5 and so long as the bridge-section C- is in line with the main. tube or conductor the case or chamber B will be free from the eifcct of such current; hence the door l will open freely outward. As the carrier when allowed to pass beneath instead of through the section G automatically raises the section again into line with the conductor in theact of descending to the bottoni board, G, it will be apparent that when the carrier reaches said bottom board it will roll down the same,

and, coming into contact with the door, push it open and escape from the box; but so long as the switch or bridge is tipped out oi' line with the conductor the current of air passes through the conductor and the box in a nearly direct line from the incoming to the outgoing end oi" the tube, and consequently creates a suction in the box, which holds the door l tightly closed, and prevents any interference with the current in the tube or conductor back of the particular box or station. A, latch, J, controlled by an electro-magnet, K, in a normallyopen circuit, serves to hold the section C in its elevated position, except when by closing the circuit the operator causes the magnet to be energized and to attract its armature L, which, being connected with the latch J, withdraws the latter and permits the section to fall. rlhc latch maybe applied to the arm E, as in Fig. 101 arranged to engage with one end of the section C, as in Fig. 2, the two arrangements being equivalents. It will ot' IOC) course be understood that a battery and line Wire are provided for the electro-magnet, and a switch or key by which the circuit may be closed when necessary.

The lever E, when used, will preferably be provided with an anti-friction roller, Z), at the end, which bears against section C, and will be made concave or spoon-shaped at the other end.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In combination with box B and the tube or conductor A, gravitating pivoted section C, extending` across the box between the incoming,` and outgoing ends ol" said tube, and an arm, E, beneath the pivoted section, adapted to be acted upon by the Carrier passing benenth said section C, andro roel; the saine into l line with the tube, or conductor, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with tube A, the box B, having` inclined bottom board, G, and gravitating door I, pivoted section C, and means, substantially7 such as shown and described, for throwing said section into line with thetnbe A, and retaining` it in such position.

3. In combination with a pneumatic tube or eonductorA, a box, B, provided with pivoted section C, arm E, inclined bottoni board, G, door Llatch J ,and eleotromagnet K, arranged, substantially as shown and described, to control the latch, :is and for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT GILLHAM.

Vitnesses:

Arrnnn'r Bnisinlnn, CMAS.4 L. DonsoN. 

